The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has faulted the appointments of new judges to the bench of the National Industrial Court (NIC) and demanded an investigation into how they were appointed.
In a petition sent to the Chairman of National Judicial Council, (NJC), a copy of which was made available to National Mirror, TUC President, Mr. Peter Esele, said Labour had confirmed that none of the newly appointed judges met the requirement of the law and therefore not qualified to preside over the industrial relations and labour matters.
The TUC president said the Labour is therefore compelled as a major stakeholder in the cases decided by the court to request for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the "illegal" appointment of the 12 new judges of the NIC by the President based on the recommendations of the NJC.
Esele said: "Some lawyers, who were qualified by law, were not shortlisted by the NIC President, Justice Babatunde Adejumo, because they are not connected to people in high places".
Quoting Section 2 of the National Industrial Court Act 2006, which provides for the appointment of legal practitioners of not less than 10 years standing with considerable knowledge and experience in the law and practice of industrial relations or a graduate of recognised university of not less than 10 years standing who has considerable knowledge and experience in the law and practice of industrial relations and employment conditions in Nigeria, Esele insisted that the new judges did not meet those criteria.
The TUC president said: "Labour has confidence that the NJC Chairman, Justice Maryam Aloma Mukhtar, who has embarked on patriotic reform of the judiciary, will not allow judges who are not qualified to preside over cases in the National Industrial Court".
In the petition, some of the newly appointed judges of the court listed by the TUC president are: Chief Registrar of the National Industrial Court, Mrs. R.B. Haastrup; Assistant Chief Registrar, Mrs. L. Mani; Assistant Director, National Law Reform Commission, Mrs. W. Abali; Director, Administration Federal Judicial Service Commission, Mrs. R.A. Gwandu and Director of Studies, National Judicial Institute, Mrs. O.Y. Anuwe.
Other judges listed as not qualified include Director, National Judicial Institute, Mr. J.D. Peters, Chief Magistrate, Mr. O.O. Oyewunmi, Legal Practitioner, Mrs. E.N.N. Agbakoba, Mrs. A.k. Ikechukwu, Mrs. A. Ubaka, Mr. P.O. Lifu and Mr. E.D.E. Isele.
National Mirror